Contending for the Faith

Ephesians 6:11-13 says “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand
against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the
full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand
your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

-Prayer

Our Conference theme this year is “Contending for the faith” and our sub-
theme, as given by the leadership of the Youth arm of our denomination is “Staying
Focused, Winning Spiritual Battles”.

Brothers and sisters, as we examine God’s word today, let us consider the thought
“THE FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES”

Contending for the Faith! What does it mean to contend for the faith, our faith, The
Christian faith? what exactly does this mean? *EMPHASIS* According to the
Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word contend means to strive or vie in contest or
rivalry or against difficulties. As Christians, it is important that we contend for the
faith, strive for it, fight for it, even die for it! In our text today brothers and sisters,
we are encouraged by The Apostle Paul to adorn oneself with the full armor of God
in order to take our stand against the devil’s schemes (His schemes, his crafty and
cunning ways). Paul is saying we should contend for the faith, fight for the faith,
stand up for your faith.

In standing for your faith, one needs to know who we stand against; my brethren I
am saying we should know our enemy.

His name is the Devil! Which means to slanderer or accuser. Now let us consider
that he is our enemy: a shrewd and cunning enemy. And that’s his nature. His
attacks are spiritual, not of the earthly realm, and often we mistake the foe for our
brethren, but the devil is the real enemy, a spiritual on at that.

The enemy is clearly set apart…the fight must now go on. But how do we fight the
devil? Firstly, my brethren, we are no longer Christians but Christian Soldiers in this
fight, and it is made clear in the Bible in these verses that our goal as Christian
soldiers is that of standing. Something that “does not” move, people that do not
waiver. If we are to stand in the day of battle, then we must not only know our
enemy but we must possess energy for the battle

But where do we get our energy? What is our source? Who is our source? We are
told that our source is not within ourselves but, we are to “be strong in the Lord
and in the power of His might.” This means we get our energy from the “power of
his might”, we get the energy to fight, to stand, to strive from the Mighty God we
serve! 2 Tim. 4:7 say “God’s power will be our power and will be able to stand for
Him in the day of the battle!” Here we are assured of our energy, by the words of
Timothy, our omnipotent God will give us the energy, the power to fight our enemy.

OUR EQUIPMENT

It is said that that a soldier is no better than his equipment. We have focused on
“Our Enemy” and “Our Energy” but…Paul also makes mention to “Our Equipment”
as he encourages us to be adorned in the full armor of God